Apparatus for preventing spontaneous combustion in coal piles



' J.. A. THOMAS. APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION IN COAL PILES.

APPLICATION FILED ocrn 12, 191s.

11,399,036.- Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

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l f Home# Flti'i HCE JOHN A. THOMAS, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

Application led October 12, 1918. Serial No. 257,913.

To all Lc/wm t may concern Be it known 'that l, JOHN A. Ti-roMAs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and tate of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Preventing Spontaneous Combustion in Coal Piles, of which the following isa speciiication.

This invention relates to an apparatus for and process of preventing spontaneous combustion in storage coal piles.

It is well known that great losses have been sustained through the burning of coal when stored in piles and that the fire which is generated within the coal pile' is recognized as the result of what is called spon-l taneous combustion; therefore the object of my invention is to introduce and pass through the coal air in sufficient volumeV and under sufficient pressure to maintain the coal in a suicient dry state to prevent cornbustion taking place.

The preferred apparatus for accomplishing this object is illustratedin the accompanying drawing in which, n

Figure 1 is a plan view of a coal receptacle having my improved air supplying mea-ns connected therewith,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section of one of the air conducting pipes,

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the end portion of one of said pipes on a scale slightly reduced from that shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on line 4 4 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the coal receptacle.

Similar characters of reference denote like and corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

For the purpose of illustrating my apparatus I have shown the erect angular coal receptacle l the walls of which may be formed of cement or other suitable substance. It will be understoodv however that such receptacle may in itself be omitted a-nd the coal piled on the ground in the space which is occupied by the receptacle or piled on a suitable concrete iiooring or base for instance as that indicated at 3,. 4 represents parallel pipes of which there may be any desired number, one set or battery of these pipes extending through each end of the receptacle and to a point near the center of bthe length of the receptacle., The pipes have their inner ends closed and are all in floor recesses 5 so that their upper surfaces'do not project undersirably beyond the floor surface of the piling space or receptacle.

The pipes 4 are suitably perforated in theirv lis pumped under pressure from a suitable form of air pump 9. From the ends of-the supply tank 8 lead air-pipes 10 the-latter connecting respectively ywith the secondary supply tanks 6. At suitable points in the air pipes l0 I provide cut olf valves l1.

By reference to Fig. 5 of the drawing it will be seen that the floor ofthe receptacle 1 is preferably inclined toward one side of the receptacle or piling space and by reference to Fig. 4 it will be seen that the perforated pipes 4 are inclined outwardly in the direction of the length of the receptacle. When a walled receptacle such as that shown at l is employed l provide at a point opposite the floor surface and within the wall of such receptacle a conduit 12 into which lead ports 13 formed in the receptacle at the junction of one of said walls and the floor of the receptacle. It will be understood that owing to the incline of the iloor 3 toward the outlet ports 13 water which might otherwise accumulate in the bottom of the receptacle may find an outlet through the conduit 12.

It will be likewise clearthat the incline ofv the pipes 14 in the direction of the length of thereceptacle and toward the ends thereof will insure the carrying into the secondary supply tank any water which may otherwise accumulate in said pipes.

In operation it will be understood that the air which is pumped into the main supply tank 8 will be distributed through the pipes lO when thek valves 1l are open thence into the tanks 6 and pipes 4 from which pipesv the air may pass outward through the perforations 4a and into and through the bodj7 of coal which is designed to be supported on the floor 3 and above the pipes 4.

It is a recognized fact that spontaneous combustion in coal piles is largely the result of the action at We??? .011 the interior at theJ pile. `Water passing into the coal pile as a result oit rains and melted snowresults when in Contact with the coal in causing decomposition ot the coal to a greater or less extent and combineswith the carbon content to produce certain carbon gases. This chemical reaction is of necessity accompanied by heat and after a predetermined temperature point is reached the carbon content of the coal as it is released combines with the oxygen of the air with 'the result that fire is generated. the means ivhich' have described of passing` air under pressure through the periiorations lof the pipes and into the body of coal it will readily be understood that the coal will bel kept suliciently dry to prevent the process of oxidation above described. ln case there should be an accurnulatioiror` water on the floor or in the lower portion oit the coal pile such water may rind its way outward downv the lateral incline of the door of the receptacle through the ports 13 and into the conduit l2 from which the water may7 be disand that I have provided the air conductingvpipes 10 with the valves 1l thus vpermitting of Vone set of the pipes Abeing closed to the incoming` air in case there is coal piled in one part of the receptacle only.

By the use of the'processand apparatus described it is obvious tl'iat spontaneouscombustion in coal piles may be prevented there by eeeting a great saving' oif lfuel and expense.

What l claim is:

l. An apparatus for storing coal comprising a base having a plurality oiE grooves formed in its upper surlalfe, pipes disposed to occupy said grooves, said pipes having a plurality of apertures formed therein, and means lor supplying air under pressure to said pipes.

pendicular side ivalls, said base having a plurality of grooves formed in its upper suriface, pipe members" disposedwvithin said grooves and 'formed with outwardly opening apertures, and means for supplying air under pressure to said pipes.

`2l. An apparatus for storing coal, comprising a receptacle including a base and substantially perpendicular side walls, the upper surface ot' said base being provided with grooves, pipe members disposed to occupy said grooves, said` pipe members being :formed with rows of outwardly opening apertures, means tor supplying air under fpressure to said pipe members, and the upper surface of said base being longitudina ly and transversely inclined to provide a diseharg'ng medium for accumulated water within said receptacle. Y y

4l. The structure as specified in claim 3, in combination with a discharging duct for water located contiguous to the lower transverse side of said base.

5. An apparatusfor storing minerals comprising a hase, conduits provided in the base below the upper surface thereof, said conduits being provided with longitudinally disposed outlet openings, and `means Vfor forcing a gas kthrough said conduits, whereby said gas will be discharged from said openings and permitted to pass through a bodyoil relatively yloose mineral matter positioned upon said base `and over said conduits.

y 6. An apparatus for storing minerals,.com prising a base` having a Vchannel formed therein, a conduit positioned within said channel and arranged to extend longitudi nally thereof, said conduit being provided with longitudinally disposed -outlet openings, and a power driven fluid circulating device in communication with said conduit and operative to torce a fluid therethrough, whereby said uid will be permitted to issue from said openings and to pass throughV a body of relatively loose minerals deposited upon said base and over said conduit.

In testimony whereof aiiii; mysignature.

Jenn A. rriiornis. 

